Tough: These mountain runners defy snow, cold, wind

With cloudy skies, strong winds and temperatures around freezing in the finish area, this year's South Tyrol Drei Zinnen Alpine Run in Sexten was a real test. At the end, two "Azzurri" celebrated at the mountain station of the Helmjet in the Dolomites region of 3 Zinnen: Filippo Barizza (Veneto) and Sara Bottarelli (Lombardy) - she is now the record winner of the event together with the Czech Anna Pichrtova.

For the second time in the 26-year history of the South Tyrol Three Peaks Alpine Run, the finish line at the Dreizinnenhütte could not be reached this year. As in 2008, the 9,8-kilometer-long route with an altitude difference of 789 meters led from Haus Sexten up to the Helmjet mountain station in adverse weather conditions on Saturday. 530 intrepid athletes did not miss out on the adventure and braved the wind and cold temperatures.

In the men's race, Filippo Barizza fulfilled a long-held dream with the day's victory. The 43-year-old from Mira in Veneto has taken part in all previous editions of the renowned mountain run in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two years ago, the "Fedelissimo" climbed onto the podium for the first time in third place. On Saturday, he surpassed this achievement with his first victory. With a time of 47.01 minutes, Barizza reached the finish line 35 seconds ahead of the 20-year-younger German David Reichl (Neunburg/Bavaria). Third place went to Giacomo Spinelli, who has chosen to live in Bruneck, who posted a time of 48.11 minutes.

Filippo Barizza was the first to cross the finish line. © Giacomo Podetti

Other South Tyroleans were also able to celebrate top ten results. Christian Neumair (Bruneck) took sixth place, one position ahead of Fabian Kompatscher from Völs. Matthias Schwingshackl from Gsies came tenth, just ahead of Julian Brunner from Niederdorf.

Sara Bottarelli's record The women's race was dominated by Sara Bottarelli. The 34-year-old from Marone (Brescia province) ran in a league of her own and won the 27th edition of the South Tyrol Three Peaks Alpine Run with a time of 52.53 minutes. This would have put her 13th in the men's race. For Bottarelli, it was her fourth triumph in the classic mountain run in the 2016 Peaks Dolomites region after 2022, 2023 and 3, equaling Anna Pichrtova's record of four victories (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).

Countless amateur athletes competed in Sexten. © Giacomo Podetti

In second place was Martina De Silvestro, a top athlete from Belluno. The 32-year-old from Comelico Superiore completed the 9,8 km with 789 meters of elevation in 56.40 minutes. Dimitra Theocharis (57.21) completed the podium. The 32-year-old is from Terzo di Tolmezzo, but started for Greece this year. Katrin Sapelza was the best South Tyrolean in fifth place. The 31-year-old from Taisten narrowly missed the hour mark (1:00.25). Katia Engl (St. Lorenzen) was also pleased with a ranking in the top ten in eighth place.

This is what the protagonists say: Filippo Barizza (ITA/Winner): "I'm very happy. Firstly, because I've started for the 27th time. And secondly, because I've finally won. The years go by, I'm 43 now, but I'm still competitive as you can see. The weather wasn't exactly kind to us, but the alternative route to the Helm was also tough."

David Reichl (GER/2nd place): “I thought the race was great, the atmosphere at the start alone was breathtaking and I had goosebumps.”

Sara Bottarelli (ITA/winner): "It went very, very well today. This fourth victory means a lot to me and I am grateful that the organizers were able to find an alternative. An alternative that may have even suited me, because this season I have done more road races and actually no mountain runs at all. I suffered a lot from the cold. This summer I ran a half marathon from Lignano to Bibione in almost 40 degrees Celsius, today I had the other extreme."

The top results at the Drei Zinnen Alpine Run Men: 1. Filippo Barizza ITA/Atletica Dolomiti Belluno 47.01 2. David Reichl GER/Team Oberpfalz 47.36 3. Giacomo Spinelli ITA/Skialp Race Ahrntal 48.11 4. Maximilian Franceschini ITA/SA Valchiese 50.56 5. Peter Malits HUN 51.05

Women: 1. Sara Bottarelli ITA/Freezone 52.53 2. Martina De Silvestro ITA/Team scarpa 56.40 3. Dimitra Theocharis GRE/GS Trikalon 57.21 4. Michaela Gertis GER/LG Hohenfels 59.55 5. Katrin Sapelza ITA 1:00.25

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Tough: These mountain runners defy snow, cold, wind

On Saturday, the conditions were one would expect at a ski touring competition rather than a mountain run. Nevertheless, countless amateur athletes took on the Three Peaks Run in Sexten.

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